Trump Vows to Send in Feds if Chicago Doesn't Address Crime Epidemic

Good. Democrats should be on the defensive.

1.25.2017

His first week in office and President Donald Trump is already showing leadership in addressing the travesty of our inner-city crime epidemic. On Tuesday evening Trump threatened to "send in the Feds" if Chicago doesn't "fix the horrible 'carnage'" occurring on its streets.

While it's perfectly fine to argue whether involving the federal government is the right course of action, Democrats deserve to be put on the defensive. It is, after all, their cities that continue to be the most crime-addled.

Only time will tell how Trump intends to address the crime epidemic tearing America's inner cities, and black communities in particular, asunder, but a White House statement reiterates the president's commitment to supporting law enforcement members:

Standing Up For Our Law Enforcement Community

One of the fundamental rights of every American is to live in a safe community. A Trump Administration will empower our law enforcement officers to do their jobs and keep our streets free of crime and violence. The Trump Administration will be a law and order administration. President Trump will honor our men and women in uniform and will support their mission of protecting the public. The dangerous anti-police atmosphere in America is wrong. The Trump Administration will end it.

The Trump Administration is committed to reducing violent crime. In 2015, homicides increased by 17% in America’s fifty largest cities. That’s the largest increase in 25 years. In our nation’s capital, killings have risen by 50 percent. There were thousands of shootings in Chicago last year alone.

In response to Trump's remarks, the Chicago Police Department issued a statement saying it would welcome collaboration with various federal agencies.

"As the Mayor [Emanuel] said just a few hours ago, the Chicago Police Department is more than willing to work with the federal government to build on our partnerships with DOJ, FBI, DEA and ATF and boost federal prosecution rates for gun crimes in Chicago," Chicago police Supt. Eddie Johnson said on Tuesday evening.